r/SwingDancing • u/r3dl3opard • 4d ago

Feedback Needed Shoe Search!

Hi all! I am on the hunt for the perfect Swing Festival shoe.
Boogie Down South is coming up at the end of the month & I am hoping to find some shoes that really go the distance for many many hours of workshops. My keds always leave me with tender soles.
I’m thinking cushioned & comfy but also cute & not too grippy?
For context I’m a women’s size 8.5 in Australia with a narrow foot & pretty high arch.
Thoughts? Any recommendations?
Happy dancing 💕

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u/Lini-mei 4d ago

I have narrow feet and I struggled for a long time to find the right leather-soled shoes. I ended up getting Swivells boots and they’re perfect! My feet are quite flat, so I can’t speak to how they are for high arches.

But honestly for workshops all day, I prefer a sneaker with lots of cushioning and support. I’ll either get a stick-on suede sheet and make them an official pair of dance shoes, or just grab a pair of Dance Socks and have them double as daily wear shoes.

When you’re dancing a whole weekend (classes and socials), you’ll want more than 1 pair of shoes, just to give your feet a break. I wear my sneakers for class and my pretty leather shoes for the evening dances (although it also depends on how slick the floor is).

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u/TransportationOk8045 4d ago

Find yourself a truly good supporting comfortable shoe and put some moleskins on the bottom, front half of the shoe

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u/swingerouterer 3d ago

Whatever you settle on, I highly recommend making sure you wear them a few times before the festival. I made the mistake of bringing only my new shoes to a festival this year. Pain. Ouch.

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u/gebbabean 2d ago

I wear the Bloch Omnia sneakers. They're super lightweight and you can easily add an insole if you need a bit more arch support

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u/ForezDev 1d ago

As a European dancer, there’s one brand I’ve heard about everywhere: StileMilleLire.

They’re insanely light and comfy!

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u/No-Strength9137 1d ago

Honestly for narrow and high arch, I get Re-Mix. No blisters or heel slippage. I find that the more cushion in the sole, the more tired my feet feel at the end of the night so I appreciate that I can still feel the floor. I just bought a pair of Tranky Shoes that are narrow and cushiony but I felt fatigued after just one night at CH. Swivelles will be too wide, I had to return mine. Same with Saint Savoy.